Education Minister Dr Tim Gopeesingh met on Thursday with Archbishop Joseph Harris and settled the matter relating to a proposed merger of the Point Cumana Roman Catholic School.
The minister and the archbishop discussed the matter at a meeting Thursday morning and agreed on plan of action. Gopeesingh said he agreed with the archbishop that merging the two schools was not a good idea.
"The Ministry wishes to emphasise that it is not disestablishing the existing Point Cumana RC Primary School. We are currently exploring options for major repairs of the existing building, or construction of a new one on the same site," Gopeesingh said Thursday.
He said Archbishop Harris has found alternative accommodation for the RC school for the rest of the term. "The students will be at the Parish Hall during the next three weeks of this term. Meanwhile, discussions will continue between all parties as to where the students will be at the opening of the new term in September," the minister said.
The Education Minister and Roman Catholic Archbishop said they will consider different options including repairs to the existing school or building a new one on a different site.
Harris said his concern is to ensure that the church retains "the character of our schools". He noted that sharing a compound is not a problem for the church.
Gopeesingh met on Monday with parents and other stakeholders, including the MP for the area, Opposition leader Dr Keith Rowley, and agreed to merge the school with a government primary school.
The move was made because the RC school is not fit for use and had to be closed. However the head of the church objected and suggested that the action was "illegal, unacceptable and a breach of trust".
Harris stated that the church was "neither consulted or informed as is our right" and added that the choice of a Catholic education is a right and the Minister has "no constitutional power to determine whether a Catholic primary school is to exist or not."
The minister and the archbishop discussed the matter at a meeting Thursday morning and agreed on plan of action. Gopeesingh said he agreed with the archbishop that merging the two schools was not a good idea.
"The Ministry wishes to emphasise that it is not disestablishing the existing Point Cumana RC Primary School. We are currently exploring options for major repairs of the existing building, or construction of a new one on the same site," Gopeesingh said Thursday.
He said Archbishop Harris has found alternative accommodation for the RC school for the rest of the term. "The students will be at the Parish Hall during the next three weeks of this term. Meanwhile, discussions will continue between all parties as to where the students will be at the opening of the new term in September," the minister said.
The Education Minister and Roman Catholic Archbishop said they will consider different options including repairs to the existing school or building a new one on a different site.
Harris said his concern is to ensure that the church retains "the character of our schools". He noted that sharing a compound is not a problem for the church.
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